Garment with safety pockets

ABSTRACT

A garment with a pocket is formed between a garment body and a panel. Two different kinds of closure members are provided to close the pocket,

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/931,333 filed Jul. 30, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

This application pertains to garments such as pants, shirts that have pockets, and more particularly with closure members for closing such pockets.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Pickpockets have been around since the dawn of civilization. While one can be the victim of a pickpocket any time and any place, tourists and other visitors to various places are particularly vulnerable because lack of familiarity with the environment which leads many to be less alert.

There have been many attempts at coming out with improvements in garments that would be prevent or at least slow down a pickpocket but so far none of these attempts proved to be successful.

Thus, there is a need for a garment with closure members that can close the pockets securely and prevent pickpockets from stealing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garment constructed in accordance with this invention includes two different closure members for closing a pocket. In one embodiment, both closure members are disposed outside the pocket. In another embodiment one is outside and one is inside the pocket. A flap or strap may be disposed outside the pocket and cover the closure member.

In one embodiment, an inside panel is provided forming two pocket cavities. A closure member closes one of the cavities and the other closure member closes both cavities.

All these structures make it harder for a pickpocket to reach into the pocket and remove valuables therefrom without the wearer's notice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a portion of a garment with a pocket constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the garment with the pocket closed;

FIG. 3 shows the garment of FIG. 2 with the outer pocket section being opened;

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a first alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a garment 10 is provided with at least one pocket 12 with multiple securing members. The garment 10 may be a pair of pants, a shirt, etc. In the embodiment shown, the pocket 12 includes an outer panel 14 that is sewn on to the rest of the garment along three sides 16 as shown. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that panel 14 can be in fact formed of the outer layer forming the garment 10 and other panels can be attached to the outer layer itself.

The top edge 18 of panel 14 is attached to the garment body 11 a zipper 18. Zipper 18 is a conventional zipper formed of a top tape 18A, a bottom tape 18B and a shuttle that can be reciprocated horizontally to selectively join or separate the tapes 18A, 18B. Obviously, when the tapes 18A, 18B are joined, the space 20 disposed inwardly of the panel 14 is closed, and when the tapes 18Am 18B are separated, and a user can insert a wallet or other objects into the space 20.

A flap 22 can be optionally sewn over the zipper 18 to cover the same so that the zipper 18 is not visible. By hiding the zipper 18 from sight, the flap 22 performs both an esthetic purpose and a functional purpose.

Inwardly of space 20, there is a second panel 24. Panel 24 is secured the garment by the same sewing 16 as the panel 14, or by a different sewing (not shown). The panel 24 is also sewn or all around except along its top edge to define a second space 26. A second closure member 28 is used to selectively close space 26. The second closure member 28 may be same type as closure member 18, or a different closure member, such as a button 28A. For this second option, a button hole 28B is provided in panel 24 to receive the button 18A.

Thus, a person wearing garment 10 could put some objects into space 26, close the closure member 28, put some other objects into space 20, and close the zipper 18. The second closure member is protected under the first making it harder for a pickpocket to get to it.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the second closure 38 is provided between the outer panel 14 and the second, or center panel 24. Again, this closure 38 can be provided in the form of a button 38A secured to panel 24 and passing through a button hole 38B.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment, the second closure 18 could be used to close both cavities 20 and 26. For example this second enclosure may include a button 18A attached to the garment body 11, a first button hole 28B in panel 24 and a second button hole 28C. The wearer could pass button 28A through both the first and second holes 28B, 28C, or only through hole 28B. In an alternate embodiment, panel 24 may be omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a pocket with a wider flap 22A.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, there is no center panel 24. Instead, garment 100 is formed with a pocket 102 having a panel 104 sewn on three sides as at 106 to the garment body 111. On the top edge, the panel 104 is secured to the garment 100 by a first closure member, such as a zipper 118. A strap 122 extends downwardly by about 1-2 in. and is secured to the panel 104 by a second closure member 128. For example second closure member 128 includes a button 128A and a button hole 128B.

In an alternate embodiment, instead of strap 122, there is provided a flap 130 having the same width as pocket 102 and secured to panel 104 by closure member 128. Importantly, a strap 122 or flap 130 with a button hole 1288 may also be provided on the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. These latter elements replace the shorter flap 22 and extend downwardly by sufficient length so that the buttons 38A or 28A can pass through button hole 128B.

In all these embodiments, a garment is formed between a garment body and a panel sewn to the outer surface of the garment body. Of course, all the embodiments may also be constructed by having the garment body form an outer wall of the pocket and an inner panel can be sewn to the inside surface of the garment body to form an inner wall for the pocket. A center panel can still be provided to form a center wall for the pocket as described.

Numerous modifications may be made to this invention without departing from its scope as defined the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A garment comprising: a garment body: a first panel attached to the garment body and having three closed edges forming a first cavity and an open edge defining an opening to said first cavity;; a first closure member disposed to selectively close said opening; and a second closure member disposed adjacent to said first member.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said first panel is disposed on the outside of said garment body.
 3. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a center panel disposed between said first panel and said garment body and defining a second cavity, wherein said second closure member is arranged to close said second cavity.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein said first closure member is a zipper.
 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein said second closure member includes a button.
 6. The garment of claim of claim 3 wherein said second closure member includes a button and a button hole.
 7. The garment of claim 6 wherein said button is attached to the garment body and the button hole is formed on said center panel.
 8. The garment of claim 1 further comprising an outer member extending downwardly from said garment body.
 9. The garment of claim 1 wherein said open edge is horizontal.
 10. A garment comprising: a first, a second and a third wall defining therebetween a first and a second cavity that open at the top; a first closure selectively attaching said first and third wall; and a second closure selectively attaching said first and second wall.
 11. The garment of claim 10 further including a garment body, wherein said first wall is integral with the garment body. 